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Haunting in Chinese-Australian Writing
by Xiao XiongThis book examines haunting in terms of trauma, languaging, and the supernatural in works by Chinese Australian writers born in Australia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore. It goes beyond the conventional focus on identity issues in the analysis of diasporic writing, considering how the memory of past trauma is triggered by abusive systems of power in the present. The author unpacks how trauma also brings past violence to haunt the present. This book considers how different Chinese diasporic communities present a dynamic and multiple state through partial erasure between different Chinese subcultures and other cultures.Showing the supernatural as a social and cultural product, this book elucidates how haunting as the supernatural refers to the coexistence of, and the competition between, different cultures and powers. It takes a wide-ranging view of different diasporic communities under the banner ‘Chinese’, a term that refers not only to Chinese nationals in terms of citizenship, but also to the Chinese diaspora in terms of ancestry, and Chinese culture more generally. In analysing haunting in texts, the author positions Chinese culture as in a constant state of flux. It is relevant to literary scholars and students with interests in Australian literature, Chinese and Southeast Asian migration writing, and those with an interest in the Gothic and postcolonial traditions.
A Haunting in the Arctic
by C.J. CookeSomething has walked the floors of the Ormen for almost a century. Something that craves revenge…
A Haunting on the Hill: Return to the world of Shirley Jackson's modern classic
by Elizabeth Hand'Scary and beautifully written, imbued with the same sense of dread and inevitability as Jackson's original' NEIL GAIMANDiscover the landmark first novel ever to return to Hill House, officially authorised by the Shirley Jackson estate.'It's so vivid, full of totemic menace and with a heart-in-your-mouth, can't-look-away frisson' BRIDGET COLLINS'Genuinely sinister and beautifully written' ROSIE ANDREWS'Welcome back to Hill House. Read by daylight, and never alone' ALIX E. HARROW'Hill House is back and as haunting as ever. Some of the most striking scares I've read in years' ANA REYES_______Sixty years later, Hill House is occupied againPlaywright Holly Sherwin is close to her big break. Having received a grant to develop her new play, all she needs is time and space to bring her vision to life. Then on a weekend away, she stumbles upon Hill House - an ornate if crumbling gothic mansion, near-hidden outside a small town.Soon Holly's troupe of actors - each with ghosts of their own - arrive at Hill House for a creative retreat. But before long they find themselves at odds not just with one another, but with the house itself.For something has been waiting patiently in Hill House all these years.Something no longer content to walk alone. _______'Evocative and unsettling, capturing the essence of the original whilst offering something brand new' CARLY REAGON'A novel dripping in atmosphere and intrigue' JOANNE BURN'As unnerving and disorienting as Hill House itself' LAURA SHEPPERSON'A subtle and deeply unnerving ghost story' AMANDA MASON'Creepy, tragic, and haunting. I tore through its pages' VICTOR LaVALLE'Not a simple act of ventriloquism but a true marriage of minds' DAN CHAON
Heaven Burns
by Jen McGregorHeaven Burns is a historical novella, dramatising one of the most barbarous practices prevalent in Restoration Scotland.It is 1662 and Scotland suffers a scourge of witches. What else could explain the wars, the plagues, the storms?Runaway housewife Isobel has a duty to do, acting as clerk to John Dixon, the finest witchpricker in the country. She’s sure it’s what God wants her to do. She’s sure she can keep her growing feelings for Dixon in check.When a stranger appears telling wild tales of stolen names and false identities, Isobel’s loyalty is put to the test. Is the stranger telling her of a great wrong to be put right, or sent from Hell to thwart the witch hunts?*The background to Heaven Burns is very real. Research estimates that between 1590 and 1622, around 1,000 women may have been executed in Scotland for witchcraft, and many more tried.In Scotland, under the second King Charles, and especially after the passing of the 1649 Witchcraft Act, local religious leaders began hunt and execute witches. Once a woman had been accused of witchcraft, all that was needed by the local minister was a confession. Instead of a confession however, women could be condemned through the use of witchpricking. Just as it sounds, witch pricking was a vicious practice, which involved pricking accused women with various needles in order to obtain proof of witchcraft.The cover and interior illustrations of Heaven Burns show an imaginative rendering of some of the witchpricker’s accoutrements and chattelsAs well as being brutally drawn in places, Heaven Burns is also a story of passion. It is excellently researched, for anyone interested in historical fiction, especially around the period of Scottish witch hunting.
Hell Bent: The long-awaited follow-up to global bestseller Ninth House
by Leigh BardugoWealth. Power. Murder. Magic. Alex Stern is back and the Ivy League is going straight to hell. Find a gateway to the underworld. Steal a soul out of hell. A simple plan, except people who make this particular journey rarely come back. But Galaxy "Alex" Stern is determined to break Darlington out of purgatory?even if it costs her a future at Lethe and at Yale. Forbidden from attempting a rescue, Alex and Dawes can't call on the Ninth House for help, so they assemble a team of dubious allies to save the gentleman of Lethe. Together, they will have to navigate a maze of arcane texts and bizarre artifacts to uncover the societies' most closely guarded secrets, and break every rule doing it. But when faculty members begin to die off, Alex knows these aren't just accidents. Something deadly is at work in New Haven, and if she is going to survive, she'll have to reckon with the monsters of her past and a darkness built into the university's very walls. Thick with history and packed with Bardugo's signature twists, Hell Bent brings to life an intricate world full of magic, violence, and all too real monsters.
Hex and the City
by Kate JohnsonSomething wickedly sexy this way comes… A laugh out loud witchy romcom for fans of Lana Harper and Erin Sterling !
Hijas del horror : Rocío Silva Santisteban y Regina José Galindo : mujer, testimonio y violencia en la poesía y la performance
by Bethsabé Huamán Andía
Hokey Pokey
by Kate MascarenhasFebruary, 1929. The Regent Hotel in Birmingham is a place of deception and glamour. Behind its six-storeyed façade, guests sip absinthe cocktails on velvet banquettes, while the staff navigate the hotel's labyrinthine 'below stairs' to ensure the finest service is always at hand.In the early evening, psychoanalyst Nora Dickinson checks in under a false name. It's unlike Nora to deceive – her aversion to lying borders on the pathological – but she's travelling with an agenda. Having shadowed the famous opera singer, Berenice Oxbow, from Zurich, she's determined not to lose sight of her now.But when a terrible snow storm isolates the hotel – and its guests – from the outside world, reality appears to shift. Nora's grip loosens, and the nightmares she's worked hard to control begin to bare their teeth.Kate Mascarenhas's latest novel offers her readers a horrifying ride through murder, madness and the darkestrecesses of the mind.'A delicious piece of art deco Gothic' Natalie Marlow'Dark, complex and beautifully plotted' Rebecca Netley'Immersive, unique... with a dark supernatural core' Essie Fox'An atmospheric, claustrophobic novel... mesmerising' Elizabeth Lee
Holly: The chilling new masterwork from the No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller
by Stephen KingHolly Gibney, one of Stephen King's most compelling and ingeniously resourceful characters, returns in this thrilling novel to solve the gruesome truth behind multiple disappearances in a Midwestern town.Stephen King's HOLLY marks the triumphant return of beloved King character Holly Gibney. Readers have witnessed Holly's gradual transformation from a shy (but also brave and ethical) recluse in Mr Mercedes to Bill Hodges's partner in Finders Keepers to a full-fledged, smart, and occasionally tough private detective in The Outsider. In King's new novel, Holly is on her own, and up against a pair of unimaginably depraved and brilliantly disguised adversaries.When Penny Dahl calls the Finders Keepers detective agency hoping for help locating her missing daughter, Holly is reluctant to accept the case. Her partner, Pete, has Covid. Her (very complicated) mother has just died. And Holly is meant to be on leave. But something in Penny Dahl's desperate voice makes it impossible for Holly to turn her down.Mere blocks from where Bonnie Dahl disappeared live Professors Rodney and Emily Harris. They are the picture of bourgeois respectability: married octogenarians, devoted to each other, and semi-retired lifelong academics. But they are harbouring an unholy secret in the basement of their well-kept, book-lined home, one that may be related to Bonnie's disappearance. And it will prove nearly impossible to discover what they are up to: they are savvy, they are patient, and they are ruthless.Holly must summon all her formidable talents to outthink and outmanoeuvre the shockingly twisted professors in this chilling new masterwork from Stephen King.'I could never let Holly Gibney go. She was supposed to be a walk-on character in Mr Mercedes and she just kind of stole the book and stole my heart. Holly is all her.' STEPHEN KING 'Lavished with the kind of dialogue most mortal writers can only dream of crafting ... King's portrait of Holly is sympathetic, subtle and seductive' INDEPENDENT'King's wonderfully awkward private detective Holly Gibney returns in this black-hearted parable of American life in the Covid era... As horrifying as anything King has written' MAIL ON SUNDAY'Stephen King's prolific late flowering continues with a new outing for his detective Holly Gibney, chasing down serial killers in Holly' GUARDIAN
Horror Heights: Book 3 (Horror Heights #3)
by Bec HillWelcome to Horror Heights: can the children who live here conceal the strange goings on behind closed doors? Book three in the creeptastic series.When Yas takes a selfie in the local park with her brand new phone, she doesn't expect to see an old lady photobombing her picture. In fact, each time Yas opens the camera app, the ghostly old lady figure re-appears silently screaming. Yas decides to investigate with best friend Oscar. If the pair are being haunted, then maybe the ghost has something important to tell them... What does she want? Can Yas and Oscar find a way to banish her for good?A creeptastic new series for readers aged 8 and up - are you brave enough to discover the scares behind every door at Horror Heights?
The Hotel
by Louise MumfordDo you dare pick up The Hotel, the stunning thriller readers are calling ‘fast paced’, ‘creepy’ and ‘gripping the whole way through’?
The House in the Olive Grove
by Emma Cowell‘A glorious story that celebrates the power of love’ – Bestselling author ADRIANA TRIGIANI ‘I adored The House in the Olive Grove. It is a hymn to friendship and love, and is utterly perfect’ – Bestselling author LIZ FENWICK Will one week in Greece change their lives for ever?
The House in the Pines
by Ana Reyes'EERIE AND ATMOSPHERIC'Riley Sager, New York Times bestselling author of The House Across the Lake'GRIPPING . . . CHILLED ME TO THE BONE' Andrea Bartz, author of Reese Witherspoon Bookclub pick We Were Never Here'GENUINELY CREEPY'M. W. Craven, Sunday Times bestselling author________This is the story of a house.The cabin lies deep in the woods, where the trees are so dense it's easy to miss. On the outside it might look like it's crumbling, crawling with weeds, but on the inside it's warm and cosy. A fire crackles in the fireplace. Dinner simmers on the stove.Maya once saw this cabin as an idyllic place, like a cottage from a fairy tale, but now she knows the danger that lurks beneath. The summer she visited the cabin was the summer her best friend Aubrey died.Now, another woman from Maya's hometown has died in the same strange, unexplained way, and Maya believes only she can save the next innocent girl.Guided by her fractured memory and a mysterious, unfinished book by her late father, Maya returns home to face the house in the pines and the man who waits there - the man she's tried so hard to forget . . .
House of Marionne: The Fourth Wing meets Bridgerton!
by J. Elle'Full of magic and intrigue . . . the perfect escape for fans of fantasies that straddle the edge of our world and transport readers to dazzling, deceptive, and unexpected places' STEPHANIE GARBERARE YOU READY TO ENROL INTO THE HOUSE OF MARIONNE?Quell Marionne has lived her entire life on the run, all in order to hide the deadlymagic that flows through her veins.She was born cursed with Toushana - a perilous dark magic.And the sentence for having it? Death . . .When her secret is discovered by a merciless assassin, Quell fears time is running out.There is only one place that can save her: The House of Marionne. Run by her estranged grandmother, the school trains their students to enter The Order, a society of magical elites. Quell knows this may be the key to burying her forbidden magic forever.But if her Toushana is discovered, she will be killed.Soon Quell realises that hiding who you are is even harder, especially when she meets the handsome, brooding Jordon.And it isn't long before she's forced to choose between her true nature and everyone she's grown to love.Brimming with ballgowns and betrayal, magic and mystery, decadence and darkness, House of Marionne is perfect for readers who crave morally grey characters, irresistible romance and dark academia.
The House That Whispers
by Lin ThompsonFrom the author of The Best Liars in Riverview comes a subtle exploration of gender identity, family, and the personal ghosts that haunt us all, perfect for fans of Kyle Lukoff and Ashley Herring Blake. Eleven-year-old Simon and his siblings, Talia and Rose, are staying the week at Nanaleen's century-old house. This time, though, it&’s not their usual summer vacation trip. In fact, everything&’s different. It&’s fall, not summer. Mom and Dad are staying behind to have a &“talk.&” And Nanaleen&’s house smells weird, plus she keeps forgetting things. And these aren&’t the only things getting under Simon&’s skin: He&’s the only one who knows that his name is Simon, and that he and him pronouns are starting to feel right. But he&’s not ready to add to the changes that are already in motion in his family. To make matters worse, Simon keeps hearing a scratching in the walls, and shadows are beginning to build in the corners. He can&’t shake the feeling that something is deeply wrong…and he&’s determined to get to the bottom of it—which means launching a ghost hunt, with or without his sisters&’ help. When Simon discovers the hidden story of his great-aunt Brie, he realizes that Brie&’s life might hold answers to some of his worries. Is Brie&’s ghost haunting the old O&’Hagan house? And will Simon&’s search for ghosts turn up more secrets than he ever expected?
The Hunters (Tales of the Plains #1)
by null David WraggBook 1 of the thrilling new series from David Wragg, acclaimed author of THE BLACK HAWKS. She’s on the run. They’re out to kill.But what happens when you catch a hunter? Ree is a woman with a violent past – a past she thought she’d left behind. After years of wandering, she and her niece Javani have finally built a small life for themselves at the edge of the known world. But sometimes the past refuses to stay there, and Ree’s is about to catch up with her. This time, there will be blood. For the land is in turmoil and professional killers have arrived in their town looking for an older woman and child, setting off a desperate chase through deserts, mountains, and mines. Ree will have to discover her former self if she is to keep them both alive. From a master of modern fantasy comes a new thrilling trilogy, full of intrigue, bloodthirsty stakes – and a heroine who just won’t quit.
An Inheritance of Magic: Book 1 in a new dark fantasy series by the author of the million-copy-selling Alex Verus novels (The Inheritance of Magic Series)
by Benedict JackaBook one in a new fantasy series of super rich magical dynasties and warring heirs - from the author of the million-copy-selling Alex Verus series. For readers of contemporary fantasy who enjoy the methods and magicians of dark academia . . . *buy a copy in hardback to receive a beautiful, limited foiled edition*ANYONE CAN USE MAGIC - IF THEY CAN AFFORD THE PRICE . . .In a world where everything magical is bought up and controlled by the super rich - Stephen Oakwood has inherited a natural talent for magic. Plunged by his father's disappearance into a glittering world of scheming dynasties, warring patriarchs and vicious scions, Stephen must navigate magical high society and learn to control his gifts. Dangerous enemies await the Oakwood heir, and even more dangerous allies: if Stephen cannot master his magic quickly and learn to distinguish friend from foe, his name may end up on the missing persons list, just like his father.
Ink Blood Sister Scribe: The Sunday Times bestselling edge-of-your-seat fantasy thriller
by Emma TörzsNot all books should be opened. In this thrilling fantasy debut, meet the family tasked with guarding a trove of magical but deadly books, and the shadowy organisation that will do anything to get them back.* The instant Sunday Times bestseller ** Good Morning America's June book club pick ** Apple Book of the Year in Audio *'A bold, new novel from an extraordinary new voice.' Marlon James'Simply a delight from start to finish.' New York Times'A spectacularly spellbinding debut.' The Fantasy Hive'A magnificent debut.' The Bookseller'A delight from start to finish.' Chloe Benjamin____________Joanna Kalotay lives alone in the woods of Vermont, the sole protector of a collection of rare books; books that will allow someone to walk through walls or turn water into wine. Books of magic.Her estranged older sister Esther moves between countries and jobs, constantly changing, never staying anywhere longer than a year, desperate to avoid the deadly magic that killed her mother. Currently working on a research base in Antarctica, she has found love and perhaps a sort of happiness.But when she finds spots of blood on the mirrors in the research base, she knows someone is coming for her, and that Joanna and her collection are in danger.If they are to survive, she and Joanna must unravel the secrets their parents kept hidden from them - secrets that span centuries and continents, and could cost them their lives ...* New York Times Notable Book for 2023 ** Best Book of 2023 by NPR! *____________Readers can't get enough of Ink Blood Sister Scribe . . .***** 'THIS BOOK DESTROYED ME AND MADE ME LOSE FEELING IN MY HANDS WITH HOW ANXIOUS IT MADE ME FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS BEST 2023 RELEASE BY A THOUSAND MILES'***** 'Amazing!! Couldn't put it down.'***** 'This has be one of the most enjoyable fantasies I've read in a long time.'***** 'Dark and gripping, magic books written in blood, a shedload of mystery and intrigue, I loved it!'***** 'Absolutely brilliant!'____________'A fantastic magical adventure, not to be missed.' Kirkus Starred Review'No boxes go unticked in this fabulous page-turner, a searing debut about two sisters with very different powers.' Daily Mail'This debut novel is an absolute delight, weaving a convincing occult underground into real-world settings.' Guardian'Downright irresistible' Washington Post'Spellbinding... This is a must-read.' Publishers Weekly'A twisty and thrilling fantasy.' Kelly Link, Get in Trouble'An adventure, a puzzle, a twisty thriller, and a tender romance.' Alix E Harrow, The Once And Future Witches'Chilling and charming ... Törz's debut is a love letter to stories everywhere.' Roshani Chokshi, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride'A magical book, brimming with all the elements that make a story sing ... A gorgeously satisfying read.' Lesley Nneka Arimah, What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky
The Jaguar Path (The Songs of the Drowned #2)
by Anna StephensBook Two of the new epic fantasy trilogy by the acclaimed author of GODBLIND.
Jodie
by Hilary McKayTrapped and alone on the salt marshes, Jodie is troubled by a haunting presence in this eerily atmospheric ghost story from multi-award-winning author Hilary McKay
The Kingdom of Sweets
by Erika JohansenLight and dark - this is the destiny placed upon Natasha and Clara, the birthright bestowed on them by their godfather, the mysterious sorcerer Drosselmeyer. Clara, the favourite, grows into beauty and ease, while Natasha is cursed to live in her sister's shadow. But one fateful Christmas Eve, Natasha gets her chance at revenge. For Drosselmeyer has returned and brought with him the Nutcracker, an enchanted present which offers entry to a deceptively beautiful world: the Kingdom of Sweets.In this land of snow and sugar, Natasha is presented with a power far greater than Drosselmeyer: the Sugar Plum Fairy, who is also a giver of gifts . . . and a maker of dread-filled bargains. As Natasha uncovers the dark destiny laid before her birth, she must reckon with powers both earthly and magical . . . and decide to which world she truly belongs.
A Kingdom This Cursed and Empty: The enchanting slow burn romantasy series for fans of Raven Kennedy . . . (Kingdom of Lies #2)
by Stacia StarkStep into the second in the epic and magical Kingdom of Lies series . . .--After fleeing from everything I knew and loved, and hiding in plain sight in a deceitful court, I am now faced with Lorian’s truth.He is no mercenary . . .He is known as the Bloodthirsty Prince.His reign of terror has left a trail of blood across this continent. A trail that intertwines with my own past – not even my parents were spared from his merciless slaughter.But, to save my brother’s life, I agreed to another bargain with the fae prince. Now, I’m forced to work with him. Forced to travel to the fae lands.There are no lines I won’t cross to protect the people I love.So, I’ll manipulate, blackmail and deceive potential allies. I’ll bury my shattered heart and cooperate with the fae to prepare for the coming war.Because I now know that there are creatures far more monstrous than the fae.And some of them masquerade as men . . .
Koku Akanbi and the Heart of Midnight: The start of an epic new adventure series (Jujuland #1)
by Maria Motunrayo AdebisiWhen Koku accidentally unleashes an ancient demon, he must enter the magical world of Olori to claim his power. Full of action, magic, and eye-catching comic book-style illustrations, this 9+ series draws on West African mythology and is perfect for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers, Percy Jackson, and Dragon Mountain.Koku has always felt like he was cursed with a weird name and an illness to match. He thinks life can't get any worse - until he unleashes a demon on a school trip. He expects detention, but instead he's hurled into an impossible quest filled with MAGICAL TRIBES, MAN-EATING MONSTERS and VENGEFUL MERMAIDS. When an ASSASSIN is sent to hunt him down, Koku's only hope is to team up with a clumsy shapeshifter and a moody warrior-in-training. Together they enter the JUJULAND JUNGLE, a place filled with DANGEROUS SECRETS. Can Koku discover his own power, before it's too late?A Jujuland adventure story.
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride: A delicious gothic-infused novel from New York Times bestselling author
by Roshani Chokshi'Gorgeous and ornate' Holly Black'Lingers like a fever dream' V.E. SchwabDo not look. Do not ask. Do not pry.A sumptuous, gothic story about an obsessive female friendship cursed to end in tragedy, a marriage unraveled by dark secrets, and the danger of believing in fairy tales - the breathtaking adult debut from New York Times bestselling author Roshani Chokshi.Once upon a time, a man who believed in fairy tales married a beautiful, mysterious woman named Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada. He was a scholar of myths. She was heiress to a fortune. They exchanged gifts and stories and believed they would live happily ever after - and in exchange for her love, Indigo extracted a promise: that her bridegroom would never pry into her past. But when Indigo learns that her estranged aunt is dying and the couple is forced to return to her childhood home, the House of Dreams, the bridegroom soon finds himself unable to resist. For within the crumbling manor's extravagant rooms and musty halls, there lurks the shadow of another girl: Azure, Indigo's dearest childhood friend, who disappeared without a trace. As the house slowly reveals his wife's secrets, the bridegroom will be forced to choose between reality and fantasy, even if doing so threatens to destroy their marriage . . . or their lives.Combining the lush, haunting atmosphere of Mexican Gothic with the dreamy enchantment of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a spellbinding and darkly romantic page-turner about love and lies, secrets and betrayal, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.'A fairy tale in the oldest and truest sense' Alix E. Harrow'A shimmering tapestry' Yangsze Choo'Dark, haunting, and thrumming with mystery, magic, and love' Sue Lynn Tan'An opulent, engrossing tale' Kiran Millwood Hargrave'Darkly gorgeous and utterly entrancing' Shannon Chakraborty'An intoxicating fever dream' Emily Henry